Machine for making tubs and the like



June 6, 1939. A. M. wALsTRoM v 2,161,115

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 6, 1939. A. M. wALsTRoM 2,151,115

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Application September 29, 1938, Serial No. 232,296 y 6 Claims.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a machine which will quickly and conveniently finish in one operation both the outer surface of the tub'and Vthe endportions of the staves as a final operation after complete assembly of the tub. v v

Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration in thefaccompanying drawings. It will be'undnerstrood, however, that various changes in form, construction and arrangement may be made by thcseskilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit and scope Y' ofthe invention asexpressed in the'ap'pended claims. a I

Referring to the drawings, Fig. lrepresents' a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation with one of the units shown in partial'sectionY taken on avertical plane. Figi. 3 is a Y side view in elevation of one unitl as viewed from the plane ofthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view in sectional elevation taken on the plane of the line 4-zin Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of one of the detailed parts of the mechanism.

As herein illustrated, the'machine comprises two similar units conveniently arranged for operation by one attendant; but the machine may be constructedV if desiredwith but one unit. Gren-f erally stated, each of the similar units comprises a slow vspeed rotary spindle: carrying'a spool which is shaped to supportan inverted completely assembled butter tubj Positioned laterally of the spool is a high-'speed rotary abrasive cylinder supported on a swinging frame by which the cylinder may be manually moved into contact with the outer surface of a tubi secured on the spool. The sanding cylinder is provided with an abrasive plate which contacts the lower ends endcross members Hi'to I e.

of the tub and mounted with its driving motor on a tiltable support, the latter being controlled so that the plate may be swung into limited contact with the ends of the staves and remove the sharp outer edge. The inner edge of the stave 5 ends is also smoothed by means of an abrasive vmember positioned to contact that edge as the tub revolves onA its spindle. The further finishing of the ends of the staves is accomplished by an abrasive plate upon which the end of the in-l 10 verted tub rests when positioned on the spool, this plate having a liner abrasive than that carried by the plate which is part of the sanding cylinder. A device is also provided for forcing the tub upwardly from the supporting spool atI 15 the end of the operation.

More specifically described, with reference to drawings, the operating parts of the machine are mounted upon a frame structure comprising four upright corner standards 6, l, 8 andQ, carryingQ-ZO two front longitudinal members l@ and i l, a pair of rear longitudinal members l2 and i3, and.

For convenience in description, like reference numerals will be applied to the same parts in the two similar unita-.125

` and the description will loe stated as to one of the-units.

An upright spindle 2l] is mounted in appropriate bearing blocks 2|' and 22, the lower one 22 being supported on a pair of cross bars 23 secured-v to the longitudinal frame members li and I3, theupper one 2i being supported on a pair of short cross bars 24 secured to the upper front frame member il) and an intermediate longitudinal frame member 25. The vertical spindle Zeg; extends above the Lipper bearing 2l and has secured thereto a tub supporting spool 26 having a pair of spaced annular Vflanges 2l of which the outer peripheries are formed .to receive and support an inverted assembled tub indicated at 28,V The spindle 21) is operated by means of a conventional worm gear drive unit 29, mounted beltween .the bearings 2i and 22, and in which the spindle 2li is the gear shaft. The worm shaft'30 extends into an outer bearing 3! mounted on the- 45 `frame structure, and carries a pulley 32 connected byr a be1t'33 eXtending rearwardly to another pulley 345 mounted on a shaft 3 5 outwardly supported in suitable bearings mounted on pairs of shortbars 3S secured to plates 3l fastened to 50 the rearframe members l2 and i3, The shaft 3U carriesa drive pulley 38 having belt connectionwith aprime mover not shownherein.

The tub 23 is secured in position upon the spool Janges 2l by means of a pressure disc 39 con?A 55 tacting the bottom of the inverted tub and rotatably mounted on a support 4B of which the axis is coincident with the axis of the spool supporting spindle 2li. The support 45 is carried upon a swinging bar 4i secured to a bracket 42 rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 43 secured in suitable brackets mounted on the end frame members i4 and i1. The bar 4i terminates in a handle 45 by which the pressure disc may be manually moved into contact with the tub bottom.

When the bar 4| is in operating position, with disc 39 in Contact with the tub bottom, pressure thereupon to secure the tub upon the spool is maintained byengagement with a vertical bar 45 extending downwardly and having pivotal connection with a pivotedlever 46 mounted on a bracket 41 having rotatable bearing on a stationary shaft 48 suitably secured in the lower end members I5 and i9 of the frame structure. The forward end of the lever 45 is provided with a foot pedal 49 convenient to the operator of the machine. The vertical bar 45 is intermediately supported by a bolt`50 secured in the rear frame member l2 and extending through a curved slot 5l (Fig. 5) formed in the bar.

The upper end of the vertical bar 45 has a notch 52 to receive the extended rear end of the handle bar 4l carrying the tub bottom engaging pressure disc 39. In operation, the attendant moves the handle bar 4l down into horizontal position to secure the tub upon the spool flanges 21, and then by operation of the pedal bar 46" the vertical bar 45 is moved upwardly and at the same time given lateral movement by the curved slot 5I, causing engagement of the notch at the upper end of the bar with the extended rear end of the handle bar. Upon release of the pedal bar the vertical bar drops and moves laterally in reverse direction into position free of the handle bar when the latter is lifted to release the tub.

Positioned laterally of the tub supporting spool 25 is a rotary cylinder 53 (Fig. 4) adapted to carry abrasive material. The cylinder 53 is secured upon a high-speed spindle 54 supported at its lower end in a pair of spaced bearings 55 and 56 provided in a swingable bracket 51 having a forwardly extending annular supporting flange 58 extending through and rotatably supported upon a plate 59 secured to the frame members I and Il. Secured to the annular portion 53 of the bearing bracket, and overlying the plate 59, is the base portion of an arm 50 extending upwardly and carrying at its upper end an upper bearing I provided for the spindle 54. The extreme upper end of the arm 6l) is provided with a handle 62 for manual control' of the swinging movement of the cylinder 53 and its supporting spindle.

'I'he abrasive cylinder supporting spindle 54 is driven by means of a pulley 63 secured to the spindle between the tworlower bearings in the bearing lbracket 51. The pulley 63 is connected by a belt 64 with a driving pulley 55 mounted on the shaft 35. The abrasive material is mounted on the cylinder 53 in three cushioned sections or bands 68 spaced by open grooves 61. At the lower end of the assembled abrasive sections is a circular plate 68 secured to the spindle 54 and upon which is mounted a renewable disc 69 of abrasive material. The disc 69 is positioned to extend beneath and in contact with the lower ends of the staves in the inverted tub mounted on the spool flanges 21, when the arm 60 is upright position. Movement of the arm 60 laterally toward the tub carries the rapidly rotating abrasive bands 66 into Contact with the revolving surface of the tub, the grooves 61 registering with the hoops mounted on the tub and permitting effective contact with the surface of the staves.

Positioned rearwardly of the tub supporting spool is an electric motor carrying on its armature shaft a circular plate 1i which is adapted for securing to its front face an abrasive'disc `12. The motor 1B is tilted so that the disc 12 is in angular relation to the lower end of the inverted tub. The motor is mounted upon a swingable inclined bracket 13 (Fig. 3) supported upon a rock shaft 14 having its bearings 'i5 mounted on the cross bars 23.

The motor bracket 13 has secured thereto a forwardly extending bar of which the end extends adjacent to a laterally extending arm 11 formed .on the baseportion of the cylinder supporting arm 60. "The bar 16 and the lateral arm 11 are interconnected by means of a bolt l18 loosely secured to the bar and the arm and supporting between the two a compression spring 19. Swinging the supporting arm B0 to move the abrasive bands 56 into contact with the outer Vsurface of the tub staves, effects through the bar 15 the forward tipping of the motor supporting bracket 13, and moves the abrasive disc 12 into finishing contact :with the outer corner edge of the lower ends of the staves of the inverted tub. The forward movement of the abrasive disc 12 is limited by means of a roller 8l! contacting the lateral surface of the tub, the roller 85 being Vrotatably supported uponga U shaped bracket 8| rigidly secured tothe motor bracket 13. The spring 19 permits swinging the arm 60 suiciently to maintain full Contact bythe abrasive bands 65 with the Aside of the tub, by compression of the spring'after the limit of movement of the arm 16 has been reached through contact of the roller 80 with-'the side of the tub.

Finishing of the inner angular edge of the stave ends in the inverted tub is accomplished by an abrasive member 82 (Fig. 2,) mounted on a swinging bracket 83 having its bearing on a shaft 84 supported between the frame members Ill and 25. YLimited contact with the edge of the tub is provided by means of a spring 85 secured to the bracket 83 at one end, andrto a similar bracket in the adjacent unit at'V the other end, the movement toward the tub end being limited by an adjustable contact bolt 85 mounted in a bar 81 secured on the frame members l and 25.

Supported beneath the front side of the revolving tub is a horizontal abrasive plate 88 mounted on a rocker bar 89 having resilient hinged support on the longitudinal frame mem ber 25 by means of a bolt 90 extending loosely through the bar and frame member and carrying at its upper end a compression spring 9| bearing upon the bar.

The abrasive plate 288 is controlled in its contact with the tub by means of a link 92 pivotally attached to the bar 89 and extending downward into pivotal attachment with a pedal lever 93 having rearward support on a bracket 94 rotatably mounted on the stationary shaft 48. The

plate 88 is normally maintained in contact with the'end of the tub by means of a spring 95 secured to the frame'member il and to the pedal lever 93 and tending to lift the latter to hold the plate 88 incontact with the tub end. The rocker bar 89` extends rearwardly` of its support, and

carries a roller 96 mounted in position to contact the lower end of the tub by depression of the pedal 93, thereby forcing the tub upwardly and free of its supporting spool when the finishing operations have been completed.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, means for supporting and rotating a container of hoop bound stave construction, rotary abrasive means for finishing the outer surface of said container, said abrasive means having a series of spaced cylindrical abrasive bands and an abrasive disc, and a swingable support for said abrasive means, said support in one position causing said disc to contact an end of said container, and in another position causing said bands to contact the side surfaces of said container between said hoops.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, means for supporting and rotating a container of stave construction, rotary abrasive means for inishing the outer surface of said container, a swingable support for said abrasive means by which said means may be moved into contact with the side surface of said container, a tiltable rotary abrasive device for finishing an end edge of said container, and operative connecting means between said support and said tiltable device whereby the movement of said support to cause said abrasive means to contact the side surface of said container also causes said tiltable device to contact the end edge of said container.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, means for supporting and rotating a container of stave construction, rotary abrasive means for finishing the outer surface of said container, said abrasive means having a cylindrical abrasive band and an abrasive disc, a swingable support for said abrasive means, said support in one position causing said disc to contact the end of said container and in another position causing said band to contact the side surface of said container, an abrasive plate positioned to contact the end of said container, and

a support for said plate having resilient means tending to maintain contact between said plate and said container end.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, means for inwardly supporting and rotating an inverted container of stave construction, a hand lever, rotary means mounted on said lever adapted by movement of said lever to contact the bottom of said inverted container and retain same upon said support, releasable means for maintaining said lever in container retaining position, a pivoted bar, and a roller mounted on said bar and positioned adjacent the end of said container, said roller being movable by said bar to engage said container and dislodge same from said support.

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means for supporting and rotating a container of stave construction, rotary abrasive means for nishing the outer surface of said container, a swingable support for said abrasive means, said support having a lateral arm, a rotary abrasive device for nishing an end edge of said container, a tiltable support for said device, said tiltable support having a lateral arm, and resilient means operatively connecting said arms whereby the movement of said swingable support causes simultaneous engagement by said abrasive means and said device with said container.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in comv bination, means for supporting and rotating a container of stave construction, an intermediately pivoted bar, abrasive means mounted on one end of said bar for nishing an end of said container, a roller mounted on the other end of said bar adjacent the end of said container, and operating means attached to said bar, said operating means normally causing engagement by said abrasive means with said container and being operable to withdraw said abrasive means and cause engagement of said roller with said container to dislodge said container from said support.

AXEL M. WALSTROM. 

